Focus on the Family today applauded a Missouri senate panel’s endorsement of legislation which Focus claims would merely protect religious freedom.

In fact, the legislation does the opposite:

The legislation, Senate Resolution 31, establishes a ballot issue to amend the state constitution. The amendment would permit conservative Christians to impose official prayer and official religious symbols in public schools — against the will (and the faith) of Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, atheist, and liberal Christian parents.

The Resolution would violate the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is poorly written and, while likely to increase litigation, may be difficult to enforce, according to Leigh Hunt Greenhaw in an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The real purpose of the law is to scare conservative voters into believing, falsely, that their right to pray is under fire so that they will go to the polls and vote for extremist candidates who are intolerant of religious minorities. The Post-Dispatch writer observes:

The proposed amendment to Section 5 could be a partisan strategy. If voters hear our right to pray is endangered and that an amendment to the Missouri Constitution is needed to protect it, they might come out to vote for it. And those that do might well favor candidates and parties that have supported the amendment.

Focus and its Missouri affiliate hinted at this true intent in today’s statement:

Joe Ortwerths, executive director of the Missouri Family Policy Council, said his group promoted Senate Joint Resolution 31, because groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, for example, are trying to convince public school officials that freedom of religious expression cannot be permitted in public settings.

The Christian Rightists deliberately mischaracterize the ACLU’s defense of individual religious freedom — in particular, the freedom of minorities to pray as they wish without official school interference or official religious indoctrination.

The “religious freedom” that Focus and Missouri’s Christian Right seek is a freedom from the religion of others, not religious freedom for all.

Related Posts

9 Comments

This is disgusting and must not be allowed to stand. If it passes, take it to the Supreme Court…whatever it takes. Take your Christianity and put it where the sun doesn’t shine!

My spouse does not see that the fundies are trying to impose a theocracy in this country and if they go unchallenged it could happen.

MichaelFebruary 16, 2010 at 3:48 am -

This is another example of radical anti-gay activists beginning to show the real face of the anti-gay agenda. For years, they have sugar-coated their bigotry and intentions by claiming to “love” gay people. First, they passed Prop. 8 and took away our rights; then they convinced the Supreme Court that we are a violent and dangerous people; now they seek to amend constitutions to take away the religious liberty of anyone who does not support their counterfeit religion which teaches that homophobia = Christ. They are not just a threat to law-abiding, taxpaying, gay Americans, but other Americans as well. Who is next on thier list as they seek to turn America into Uganda?

steveFebruary 16, 2010 at 7:45 am -

Good job Missouri Senate panel. Religious liberties should not be allowed to betaken away by the anti God culture such as the ACLU and Truth Wins Out, and others. They historically and fundamentally are rights that are to be enjoyed by our citizens and are guaranteed by our Constitution.

Michael AirhartFebruary 16, 2010 at 9:38 am -

Steve, God is saddened by your contempt for the religious liberties of people whose religious beliefs don’t match your own heretical beliefs,

I would offer you a drink, but it’s obvious you’re still swilling Kool-Aid.

I would also offer you a blanky, but it’s apparent that your shivering is not because you’re cold, but because you’ve been taught to fear things you don’t understand.

I would offer you a cigarette, but you’d hurt yourself by trying to light it backward.

steveFebruary 16, 2010 at 9:54 pm -

Michael and Evan-
A fool says in his heart there is no God. For it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, went to the cross to die for your sins, and has rose again victorious over death and sin. He can save you from judgment and clothe you with righteousness if you would recognize that you are a sinner, and accept Him as savior and Lord.
Love in Christ
Steve

These people can already pray anywhere they want, any time they want. They have no right to impose prayer on others. But of course that’s exactly what they want to do. They’re attempting to redefine Religious Freedom for everyone so it only means “freedom” for evangelical Christians who share their exact narrow beliefs.

Get to Know Us

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights the "ex-gay" myth and antigay religious extremism.

TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies and exposes wrongdoing. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for truth, integrity, and equality for sexual minorities.